Iowa Median
$86,100
per year
Hourly Rate
$41.39
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-6% vs US median
US median $91,240
State Rank
#26 of 51
570 employed here
How much does a Chemist make in Iowa?
A Chemist working in Iowa earns a median salary of $86,100 per year, or about $41.39 per hour. That is 6% below the national median of $91,240 for this occupation.
Within Iowa, entry-level pay starts around $65,270 while the top 10% make $137,560 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $68,740 and $106,810 a year.
Chemist salary range in Iowa
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,270 | $31.38 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $68,740 | $33.05 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $86,100 | $41.39 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $106,810 | $51.35 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $137,560 | $66.13 |
|
How Iowa compares
Iowa ranks 26th out of 51 states and territories for Chemist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Chemist salary in other states
District of Columbia $149,860Maryland $140,670Delaware $129,860New Mexico $126,960Massachusetts $125,000Alaska $106,010Oregon $104,590Louisiana $103,890Wyoming $102,000Colorado $101,980Rhode Island $101,660New Hampshire $100,050Texas $99,640Minnesota $99,280Connecticut $98,140California $97,860Alabama $97,830Michigan $97,440Washington $97,420North Dakota $97,330Virginia $96,650Georgia $92,750New York $90,600Tennessee $87,930Vermont $86,120West Virginia $85,560Ohio $85,270Illinois $85,230New Jersey $84,450Hawaii $84,150Kentucky $84,090Kansas $82,820Missouri $82,800Florida $82,740North Carolina $82,620Arizona $81,730Nevada $81,170Utah $80,770Mississippi $80,060South Carolina $79,670Indiana $78,770Wisconsin $78,730Idaho $78,000Pennsylvania $77,090Arkansas $75,570Oklahoma $74,960Nebraska $74,890South Dakota $67,440Maine $64,440Montana $61,890
Working as a Chemist in Iowa
Nationally, about 83,000 people work as Chemists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Iowa pay ($86,100) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Chemist make in Iowa?
The median Chemist salary in Iowa is $86,100 per year, or about $41.39 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $65,270 at the entry level to $137,560 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Iowa pay compare to the national average?
Iowa pays Chemists about 6% less than the national median of $91,240. Iowa ranks 26th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Iowa a good state for Chemists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $86,100 a year. About 570 Chemists are employed in Iowa. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Iowa?
The highest-paying occupations in Iowa include Emergency Medicine Physician ($429,050), Dermatologist ($424,970), Radiologist ($405,220), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Chemist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.